“What’s the bitch done now?” she spat.
His fingers curled tighter into fists. “We need to discuss the money situation you’ve got going on.” He kept his voice cool and casual, which belied the rage boiling inside him.
“What’s it got to do with you?” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you her new boy toy now? She has a thing for pretty, rich boys. You’ll soon realize she’s just a slut.”
Jack had to gather a shitload of willpower to keep from wrapping his hands around her neck. Instead, he pulled out an envelope from the pocket of his jacket and handed it to her. “This is for you.”
Belinda looked at it with suspicion. She opened the envelope and pulled out a wad of cash. Her eyes lit up like lights on a Christmas tree. “Holy shit!” she exclaimed, flicking through the hundred-dollar notes. With fast fingers, like she thought he would take it back, she stuffed the money back into the envelope and stored it down her top. “What’s it for?”
His voice rumbled low and deep with warning. “You’re going to leave Lauren alone, and you’re never going to ask her for money again.” “How ya gonna stop me?” She scoffed.
Jack placed an arm on the doorframe, leaning forward. She stepped back, and her eyes widened with fright. All her bravado lost as she realized Jack was someone she couldn’t mess with.
“Use the money I’ve given you wisely, because that’s the last of it. You will no longer blackmail Lauren for more, and if you think for one moment that you can take her story and sell it to the media, you will deal with me, and I’ll make your life a living hell.” He casually slipped a hand in his jean pocket. “And you’ll wish you had never met me.”
Belinda sucked in a shaky breath. She wasn’t dealing with Lauren anymore who she’d walked over for years. She was now playing with the big guys. Belinda wouldn’t feel so big and tough anymore.
He straightened away from the door. “I’d like to say it was nice meeting you…” He shrugged and walked away.
The slamming of the door echoed out onto the dark street.
Chapter Thirty
Lauren had gotten little sleep, her mind filled with thoughts of all that had happened over the last couple of days. Sleeping with Jack had been a huge step from breaking away from her past, but finally admitting she loved him had been earth-shattering. Her heart pounded at a rapid rate at admitting her love. But her heart and mind were at war, pulling her in two different directions. Her heart wanted her to take a chance, but her mind cautioned her about all the obstacles she’d have to face. Claire being a major one. Her skin turned cold at the thought of the vengeful woman.
It would’ve been so much easier if it had only been about sex with Jack. Walking away after the first time and never going back for more would have been the best thing to do. She scoffed. She didn’t buy her own lie.
Walking into the kitchen, she put the coffee on. The smell of ground beans filled the space and she started to feel human again. When the coffee was done she poured herself a cup, then sat in the Lazy-Boy, curled her legs up under her, and sipped the extra-strong brew.
She wore the t-shirt Jack had given her the day she ripped her top at work. The soft fabric held a faint smell of woodsy cologne and Jack. She smiled, remembering the dark, hooded expression Jack wore when she modeled it for him the night they first made love. Memories of that sexy grin and his erotic caresses ran through her mind like an X-rated movie. She squirmed in the chair as heat simmered in her lower parts.
Jade and Ava wanted her to follow her heart and take the leap. Her palms grew sweaty at the thought. The thought of letting go and taking that step scared the living daylights out of her. She knew Jack cared for her, knew he wanted her, but how long would that last? He’d never wanted a committed relationship, so why would that change now? And if he were to commit, did she want to keep looking over her shoulder in case another woman came into their lives with more stories to tell? The problem with Belinda was big enough, could she then deal with Claire’s revenge against Jack on top of that? Did she have the strength for more problems?
Lauren dressed, drove to work, and pulled into the space next to Jaime’s car. The sky was gray, and she ran to her office, trying to avoid the light drizzle.
The last blackmail payment was due. Now that Jack’s office was completed, she had the
money to give to Belinda and hoped she would leave her alone for a while.
Calling out to Jaime, she let her know she was in the office then turned on the computer and waited for it to boot up. While she waited, her fingers trailed over her locket with Abby’s hair tucked safely inside. But as she touch the warm metal and thought of Abby, the rush of pain that normally flooded her didn’t hit with the usual force. An ache still pulled at her heart and sadness filled her, but it didn’t cut so deep. Now her heart was filled with something else— something that helped her heal the pain she had felt for so many years. Her love for Jack.
After growing up with no affection, she believed she didn’t deserve love. Her mother, Belinda, and even Graham helped seal tight that part of her heart. She’d sabotaged past relationships by dating men with no potential just so she wouldn’t have to reopen it. But Jack blasted through the barrier, broke through the lock and pried it open again. She knew Jack deserved a chance. He was worth risking her heart over.
Hope for a future filled her with longing. She wanted to tell Jack she needed him in her life. She wanted to give them a chance.
But before she could go to him she needed to purge the demons of her own past and take care of Belinda first.
Jack’s payment sat in her bank account and Lauren decided Belinda would never see any of it. She was fed up with being blackmailed. Blackmailed because she had once been young and naïve and put her trust in a slimy snake. Belinda could go to the media and spill the beans; she no longer cared. She’d had enough of keeping secrets. She was tired of living her life this way, tired of living with the ‘what ifs’. Jack couldn’t stop women like Claire trying to cause trouble, but she could stop herself from reacting to it. She didn’t need to give them any of her time or energy.
It was time to live life for herself and not be dictated by others.
A burst of adrenaline kicked into her veins as she fished her phone out of her bag and dialed Belinda’s number.
“What!” Belinda was never pleasant to talk to, but she sounded even more hostile than normal.
“Belinda, it’s Lauren.”
“Whadda ya want? I thought you had your big, hot shot boyfriend doin’ your dirty work for you now?”